Herbal Balms, Slow-Infused and Hand-Blended
Hand Crafted Herbal Balms
How Our Balms Are Made
A herbal balm is a semi-solid preparation made by infusing plants into oil and setting the result with wax. It contains no water, which is what distinguishes it from a cream and what gives it a long shelf life without synthetic preservatives. Balms sit on the skin longer than an oil and are usually applied to a specific area rather than all over.
A balm is oil and wax with no water in it; a cream is an emulsion of oil and water held together by an emulsifier. That single difference explains most of the rest — balms are thicker, last longer on the skin and need no preservative, while creams absorb faster, feel lighter and must be preserved because water allows bacteria to grow. Neither is better. Balms suit targeted application; creams suit broad areas and daily facial use.
Only if the wax is plant-derived. Most balms use beeswax, which is an animal product. Plant alternatives include candelilla wax, from a Mexican desert shrub, and carnauba wax, from a Brazilian palm. Every balm in our range uses candelilla, so the whole collection is vegan.
Take a small amount on the fingertips, warm it briefly between the palms until it softens, then work it into the skin. Balms are concentrated, so less is needed than with a cream. Apply to clean, intact skin, and patch test on the inner forearm 24 hours before first use.
A well-made balm shouldn't. The wax content is what determines this: too little and it stays slick, too much and it won't spread. Candelilla sets harder than beeswax, so a smaller proportion achieves the same firmness — which means more infused oil in the jar and less residue on the skin.
Candelilla wax is a plant wax harvested from Euphorbia antisyphilitica, a small shrub native to the deserts of northern Mexico and Texas. The plant coats its stems in wax to reduce water loss, and that coating is what's collected. It's harder than beeswax, entirely plant-derived, and used as the vegan alternative in balms, lip products and polishes.
Some are formulated for children and many are not, since menthol and certain essential oils carry age restrictions. The label is the guide. Our Children's Chest Balm is made for younger skin — lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint leaf, chamomile, thyme and calendula in coconut oil, and states its own age guidance.
It depends on the formula. The full ingredients are on each product page, and our Medical Herbalists are happy to talk it through.